Montana Deer

[jstone]

How’s Montana deer going? Any weather yet?

[jamesfromseattle]

I'm heading over to central MT w/ a combo tag late next week. Will try to remember to provide an update. First time hunting there this time of year--hopefully a little pre-rut action.

[HillHound]

I’m still a couple weeks out but will try to send an update when I get there too. Headed to Idaho this weekend whitetail hunting for a week Then back to work for 5 days and off to Montana.

[jstone]

Good Luck

I still have 3.5 weeks to go for my combo hunt.

[fowl smacker]

We're heading over on the 8th.  Looks like it's getting into the 20's at night where we're going and 40's during the day.

[Sakko300wsm]

Heading back to Montana as well on the 8th for our combo

[Wolfdog2314]

We will arrive in camp in eastern MT on the 8th as well. Weather looking fairly mild. Last year was warm. Hoping it doesn’t end up the same. Wouldn’t mind some weather. Don’t want those 50* sunny days. While it makes for comfortable hunting I feel that it really decreases the activity (as compared to prior years with cold and snow). We shall see!

[Wingin it]

Just getting over here now. Weather is definitely mild. We didn’t see nearly as many animals or activity as normal on the drive to this point compared to normal.  Will try to update in the next couple days as we get a feel for what’s happening. Surprisingly low numbers of antelope too. We were just traveling today so may not be real indicative of actual numbers.

[jstone]

Been dry dry over there. Went early archery and warm. Some rain. Antelope season opener was in the 60’s. Hoping for snow in the next week or two to get things moving.

[gasman]

Been working in Eastern MT off and on the last year, right now it's still dry, very little perception, temps are dipping in the 20s up to mid 50s with blue sky days.

Flying back Monday for the week for work, then going back the 16th to hunt.

Have 2 different land owners with permission to hunt as long as the dry weather and fire danger stay low.

They are still having Red Flag warnings due to dryness and strong winds.

[big wood]

Last week 80 degrees, cam home after 4 days of hunting. Heading back tomorrow for at least 4 days more. Hopefully elk moving

[big wood]

Didn't realize this was a deer thread sorry

[HillHound]

How is the mule deer rut activity looking? I should be headed over to eastern Montana sometime in the next few days if I can get caught up at work.

[WAcoueshunter]

I’m in central MT. Got here today. Had a nice whitetail cruising at 12:30p on my way in.  Fun to see a 140 class just trotting along the highway at midday. Mule deer rut is starting, the smaller bucks are chasing does but didn’t see a mature muley buck (over 3 1/2) today. Did see a bigger 2 point chase a doe across the hill at full speed.   Saw a smaller 4 pt who couldn’t put his nose down. Getting close.

[jamesfromseattle]

Back from south Central MT earlier this week. Slow going where I was. Didn't see any signs of the rut. Weather was beautiful for hanging out but no so much for hunting. Small bucks was all I saw.

Good luck to everyone heading over.

[Sakko300wsm]

In Central Montana now - whietails rutting like crazy , mule deer are starting to get into it. We have two 10 points so far

[highside74]

My buddy has 3 avg mule deer in their group. Had the opportunity on 2 giants but when they were heading down to try and get in front of them they were just behind them when they crossed the road but onto more state land. They figured they had about 500 yards before they were onto private. As they were grabbing their rifles a farmer came flying up the road in his truck and chased the deer all the way off the state land. Turned around and drove past my buddy with a big grin on his face. 2 biggest deer they saw all week. 180 plus he figured.

[bearhunter99]

My buddy has 3 avg mule deer in their group. Had the opportunity on 2 giants but when they were heading down to try and get in front of them they were just behind them when the crossed the road but onto more state land. They figured they had about 500 yards before they were onto private. As they were grabbing their rifles a farm came flying up the road in his truck and chased the deer all the way off the state land. Turned around and drove past my buddy with a big grin on his face. 2 biggest deer they say all week. 180 plus he figured.

That stinks. 

[MackDaddy509]

Couple buddies have been hunting down in SE Montana for the last 4-5 days. They reported seeing a lot of rut activity - primarily smaller bucks pushing does, even with weather being still mild. Which isn't helping...

My wife, father-in-law, and I will be headed to SE Montana on the 20th until Thanksgiving. Hoping some weather moves in and gets those older age class bucks on their feet. Worst case scenario, we will hunt the last weekend in Thompson Falls on the family ranch for whitetails.

Not getting high expectations regardless, last year was rough in North Central MT so if we can turn up any mediocre bucks, we will be satisfied. Will report back once we return.

Best of luck to all.

[fowl smacker]

Just left Montana this morning.  Our group got 4 of 6.  Mule deer rutting good.  Here's mine.

[MADMAX]

What a neck on that buck
Nice work 👍

[fowl smacker]

What a neck on that buck
Nice work 👍

I noticed his face and the size of his neck well before I saw antlers to determine buck.

[dvolmer]

I just got home. We got three good ones. Weather was mild.

[jamesfromseattle]

Outstanding deer. Great work!

[MADMAX]

Very nice deer
Big whitetail👍
I’d say you got it figured out over there

[HillHound]

That’s great To hear. Congratulations. I am headed that way in about 10 hours, just finishing packing the truck up

[RightPlace-RightTime]

Our camp 6 years ago

[blackymaster20]

Heading out at 5am tomorrow! Hopefully bringing back a couple good bucks!

[Dirtnap]

Just got back from a 8 day trip.  My 14 year old boys had deer tags and I had a whitetail doe tag.  They had made up their minds months ago they were only going to shoot a good buck or no buck.  Well it was in the mid 50’s during the day and they each had shots at a nice buck.  It’s a good year for tag soup, plenty of meat in the freezer. I would say overall deer numbers are definitely low.  We had a great memorable trip though. 
A lot of land is being bought up or leased and hunting isn’t being allowed. Groups like American Prairie, Nature Conservancy Group, they say written permission, I call BS.

[D-Rock425]

Two daughters and I are heading out Saturday spending the entire week over deer hunting.

[huntandjeep]

Been over here for 9 days , heading home in the morning . I Haven't been here since 2020 and to say I was shocked at the difference in deer numbers and quality is an understatement. Areas we hunted years prior that we would pass up 6 or 7 bucks a day . Turned to maybe seeing A 2x2 or tiny 3x3 .  Everyday we were seeing does , problem is not a single Nice / decent/ mature ( whatever you want to call them ) buck with any of them . Alot of small 2x2s and spikes hanging with groups of 3 & 4 does . I would guess we were seeing 10+ 2x2s and spikes a day , with maybe 1 super small 3x3 a day thrown in .  . We ground it out every day from daylight till dark , and were able to connect on 3 great deer in the end . All 3 of us were committed to eating our tags , and not just shooting a buck to bring home . But it was a grind turning them up . We've decided we are done in Montana for a few years .

[addicted1]

That’s pretty crazy, 9 days would give you a pretty good sample size for the area. What do you think has changed over there?

[HillHound]

I also just got back from hunting over there for eight days and we had the exact same experience. Been going for the last 12 years And I’ve seen bucks we considered and past on a daily. This year I saw one buck in 8 days I would have shot if I could have got the chance. And two OK ones that I had passed that were still young. Other than that all year and a half old bucks basically. Lots of does and lots of young bucks. I think this is a result of not being able to shoot a doe on your general tag or on public. Before guys would hold out trying to find a big one and then end up shooting a doe on the last day, now they are probably filling that quicker since it’s not good for doe they are not being picky. I think the rule change will greatly increase the deer population in the next few years, but I believe their buck to doe ratio is going to be way off or at least the age class of bucks is going to be sub par for sure. I Stopped on the way back and filled my tag on a whitetail. We will probably go back because there is always a chance, but I do feel my expectations are definitely lowered

[bear]

Southeast got hammered by the drought a few years back.  Numbers are gaining about 20% back each year. Should be back to normal in a few more years.  Not sure what’s happening in other parts of the state.    I remember before wolves when the Methow used to bounce back in 5 years.  Sad

[JakeLand]

I know the northeast got hammered by the winter 2 years ago and the droughts before that this is my 2nd year not going and will still wait a few more

[BigCutty3]

I was there the week of the 11th and it was really warm but the deer were rutting.  Saw one mature thick mid 20s buck that I chased for a few days but he only left private once and I didn’t want to chance the shot in the wind.  Other than that saw some 18-22” muleys that just didn’t interest me.  Lots of weak and broken antlers. Decent deer numbers overall, but lacking buck numbers, particularly 3 year plus deer.  Private definitely faring better, but even on private I was seeing 20+ deer groups being tended and chased by 2 and 3 points.  I ended up shooting a small whitetail in the last few hours, I figured the landscape needed every mule deer buck it could get.
I agree with Jake, in my area the drought followed by the hard winter a couple years ago really knocked them back.  Plus hunting pressure has definitely ramped up, and you see more and more people hiked several miles in where you used to not see much of that.  It used to be almost everyone you saw was in a truck or sxs, not anymore.  I was on boot prints almost everywhere I went, 3-5 miles in.  I think the place has been pod casted and you tubed to death lol. 

[Mtnwalker]

It's an uphill battle for the deer to bounce back with general season rut dates, tons of development gobbling up winter habitat, and the amount of guys getting after it harder these days. IMO somethings gotta give

[boneaddict]

I wonder what the Non resident numbers look like these days.  I was surprised at how many folks were out there. 

[huntandjeep]

That’s pretty crazy, 9 days would give you a pretty good sample size for the area. What do you think has changed over there?

I think it boils down to a few rough winters , a few drought years, and dudes wacking little bucks on their way out of town because they need to justify the amount of money they spent .

[dvolmer]

That’s pretty crazy, 9 days would give you a pretty good sample size for the area. What do you think has changed over there?

I think it boils down to a few rough winters , a few drought years, and dudes wacking little bucks on their way out of town because they need to justify the amount of money they spent .

I agree.  They should also shut down all mule deer doe hunting and mule deer doe special permits. That should happen in Washington also.

[jstone]

 

[Sakko300wsm]

Killing mule deer does is just plain stupid period!!

[dilleytech]

I just got home. We got three good ones. Weather was mild.

Man those whitetails are just so much more impressive to me. Couple of studs.

[ganghis]

Just got back from a 8 day trip.  My 14 year old boys had deer tags and I had a whitetail doe tag.  They had made up their minds months ago they were only going to shoot a good buck or no buck.  Well it was in the mid 50’s during the day and they each had shots at a nice buck.  It’s a good year for tag soup, plenty of meat in the freezer. I would say overall deer numbers are definitely low.  We had a great memorable trip though. 
A lot of land is being bought up or leased and hunting isn’t being allowed. Groups like American Prairie, Nature Conservancy Group, they say written permission, I call BS.

I've given money to Nature Conservancy over the years.  In the past they've been pretty good about access, at least if it's within management objectives.  Here's a thread from a few years back on hunttalk.  Has it changed?

https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/for-those-who-think-the-nature-conservancy-is-anti-hunting.274107/

[dilleytech]

Our camp 6 years ago

I forgot about this photo. About 100# of wasted neck meat laying on logs lol still funny

[boneaddict]

Killing mule deer does is just plain stupid period!!

Amen!   Its a hard one for me to swallow on here.   

[pianoman9701]

Some beautiful bucks. Love the dark brown on that first one.